Simultaneous multiple twisting apparatus

ABSTRACT

In each twisting unit of a multiple twisting apparatus, a twofor-one twisting assembly imparts a first twist to each component yarn while a ring twisting assembly imparts a second twist to a doubled first-twisted yarns. A plurality of first twisted yarns are doubled under tension control and the doubled yarn is taken up by a feed mechanism so as to be supplied to the ring twisting assembly under tension control via a yarn passage formed behind the two-for-one twisting assemblies. The two-for-one twisting assemblies are arranged in two alignments along a lengthwise direction of the apparatus. All driving members are driven synchronously at least at a starting period and at a time of stopping the twisting operation.

United States Patent Matsumura et al.

[ Nov. 11, 1975 1 SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE TWTSTING 21:35AM 411953 Truitt... 1. 57158.52 APPARATUS 2.979882 4/1961 Bromley et al. 57158 54 X 2.9890837 6/[961 Vibber 1, 57/5855 Inventors: Sakujiw Malsumura; Tadashi 3,l92 698 7/1965 ibber 47 57/5883 Yamamura, both of Nishio; Akira Ogura, Toyokflwm Masataka FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Hayashi, NiShiO, all of Japan 1.027,.270 4/1902 France 0 57/5855 404,168 [H934 United Kingdom 57/5886 [73] Asslgnee: Toyo Tire Cord Company Limited,

Osaka Japan Primary E.\'ami11er--Donald E. Watkins [22 Filed: Sept. ll, i974 AHUI'H), Agent. or F1'rmBurgess Ryan and Wayne [2i] Appl. No: 505,000

[57] ABSTRACT Related US. Application Data 4 1 C 1 1 1 f S N gm 1 M1 1| In each tw1stmg unit of a multiple twistlng apparatus gf gf 0 Q U a two-for-one twisting assembly imparts a first twist to M at. No. 1846365.

each component yarn wh1le a ring twisting assembly 30 F0 A r P D imparts second twist to a doubled first-twisted yarns. 1 ppma nor") am A plurallty of first twisted yarns are doubled under May Japa" 4751680 tension control and the doubled yarn is taken up by a I feed mechanism so as to be supplied to the ring twist- [52l 57/5854 2/ 8 ing assembly under tension control via a yarn passage f formed behind the two for-one twisting assemblies, Egg fl'g gg 1/ 1 22 1 The two-for one twisting assemblies are arranged in ggpaialllisgnments along a lengthwise direction of the up- All driving members are driven synchronously at least [56] References Cited aty astarting period and at :1 time of stopping the UNITED STATES PATENTS Operatlon' 2.576.936 1211951 Heffelfingcr M 57/80 l9 Claims, 19 Drawing Figumfi l1 4l \9 1 1 17 l 1 T 4 /11 H 1 1 11) 58 59 6G 7 104 e? \C 1 Q5 5 a W la 1 55 1 1C2? O $28 4 \62 5Q 29 5 5 53 9 1 56 34 P7 0 J7 t if 4 M 2& 1 16 1 -01 r C l 17 3 H 2 15 it? U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 1 of 17 3,918,245

U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 2 of 17 3,918,245

U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 3 of 17 3,918,245

U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 5 of 17 3,918,245

7 99 t7 10 1 107 1 IO US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 6 of 17 3,918,245

US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 8 of 17 U.S. Patent U.S. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet 11 of 17 3,918,245

US. Patent N0v.11, 1975 Sheet 12 of 17 3,918,245

U.S. Patent N0v.l1, 1975 Sheet 13 0f17 3,918,245

US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 14 of 17 3,918,245

U.S. Patent Nov.11, 1975 shw 15 of 17 3,918,245

US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 16 of 17 3,918,245

Fig. /6

x x x x lb lb lb P I/ K x [A ll/ 1 \l I, I/ \1 Z T I I 1 Z l I; a I; a ,TEQQ ,I; I Y 1 Y l 1 l la la |C1 IO X x x x ELECTRIC 9- /9 "Tm 15g"; SOURCE L M 1 f 2 MOTOR s MOTOR 35 t1 C t2 '50 U.S. Patant Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 17 of 17 3,918,245

m m m M 1 K P. g B Wu W D| & 1 gm SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE TWISTING APPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a continuation in part application of the copending US. patent application, Ser. No. 362,107, now US, Pat. No. 3,846,965, and relates to an improved multiple twister.

in particular it relates to an improvement of a multiple twisting apparatus wherein a first twist is applied to each component yarn by a two-for-one twisting assembly while a second twist is applied to a strand of combined first-twisted component yarn by a ring twisting assembly. All driving members are driven synchronously, at least at a starting period and at a time of stopping the twisting operation.

Generally, several different types of twisting apparatus have been utilized for producing multiple plied yarns. One of them is a so-called simultaneous multiple twisting assembly which utilizes a so-called direct double twister having a flyer twisting and winding mechanism. Another known twisting apparatus is a multiple twisting assembly shown in the British Pat. No. 896,493, wherein a first twist is imparted to two component yarns by a pair of two-for-one twisting assemblies, respectively, and thereafter a second twist is imparted to a strand of combined yarns in one continuous process.

According to our experience, in the first mentioned twisting assembly, it is very difficult to control the balance of tension between component twisted yarns and, consequently, it is impossible to prevent the breakage of component yarns during the operation. The larger the size of a yarn package mounted on an inside spindle of the assembly the more pronounced the above-mentioned problem becomes. Therefore, there is a certain limitation in the size ofa full packaged bobbin mounted on the inside spindle of the assembly. As doffing of the exhaust bobbins from the inside spindle and donning of the full packaged fresh bobbins on the inside spindle is often required, if the size of the above-mentioned full packaged bobbin in restricted, the productivity of the twisting assembly is also restricted.

The second type of the above-mentioned apparatus is utilized for processing orientable continuous filament yarn. This apparatus comprises, in combination, means for withdrawing the orientable yarn from a yarn package and for twisting the same so as to produce two twists for each revolution of a shaft. A first yarn forwarding device associated with the withdrawing and twisting means draws the yarn at a speed greater than the speed at which the yarn is withdrawn from the yarn package, whereby the yarn is twisted and stretched simultaneously. Means are provided for taking up the thus-processed yarn in an ordinary manner. In this apparatus, a yarn-with-drawing device is disposed in a yarn passage formed in a hollow axis of the yarn package, and this device is driven in a controlled rotational relationship with the first yarn forwarding device. As described in the specification of this prior patent, when a first twist is imparted to a yarn by the two-for-one twisting assembly, a yarn taken from the package is positively carried by a plurality of rollers so as to lead toward a rear side direction of the assembly and, after passing through a hollow shaft of a worm gear and a yarn guide. the yarn is carried to a front position of the assembly. The two processed yarns are then doubled.

2 The doubled yarn is stretched while passing through a stretching device and finally, a second twist is imparted to this stretched yarn by a ring twisting assembly.

Based on our experience, we have found that, in the yam processing operation using the section type of the above-mentioned apparatus, as the orientable yarns are firstly provided with a first twist, respectively, and next, the double yarn is subjected to the stretching operation and, finally, the second twist is imparted to the stretched yarn, it is not easy to maintain the twist configurations of component yarns in a balanced condition before doubling. if an unbalanced condition is created, this unbalanced twist configuration between the component yarns creates an undesirable configuration of the second twist, such as the creation of snail. The stretching operation enhances the above-mentioned objectionable features According to our experience, if a twisted doubled yarn is subjected to a stretching operation, the twist (second twist) tends to displace toward an upstream portion of the yarn which is being carried through the yarn passage in the stretching zone. In other words, the first twisted yarn is mainly stretched in a doubled condition without twists. However, when the twists are concentrated in the above-mentioned upstream portion and the concentrated twists reach a saturated condition, the concentrated twists are displaced to a downstream portion of the yarn which is being carried through the yarn passage in the stretching zone And when the number of twists remaining in the yarn, which is being carried through the yarn passage, is lowered to a certain limit, the above-mentioned concentra tion of the twists in the upstream portion of the yarn commences. The above-mentioned displacement and concentration of the twists is repeated during the operation. According to the above-mentioned displacement and concentration of the twists, the stretching of the doubled yarn can not be carried out uniformly, and, further, the distribution of twists of each component yarn becomes irregular. Consequently, it is very difficult to produce a multiple twisted yarn having uniform quality. In other words, the secondmentioned apparatus can not be utilized for producing a tire-cord yarn for vehicle tires which requires a high uniformity of twist configuration and other mechanical properties. However, the second mentioned apparatus may be utilized to produce a cord yarn for manufacturing a conveyer belt which is preferably utilized for carrying substances of light weight, because there is no danger of serious accidents causing injury to human beings, as would be the case if this cord yarn were to be used in vehicle tires.

It may be considered that the second mentioned apparatus can be utilized for producing multiple twisted yarn by omitting the stretching means. However, in this apparatus, it is difficult to maintain a balanced condition between the first twists imparted to each component yarn because of the uneven condition of the ballooning which is inevitable in the two for-one twisting assembly of this apparatus.

The principal object of the present'invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned objectionable features of the conventional apparatus, by presenting a multiple twisting apparatus whereby the first twisting operation. doubling operation and the second twisting operation can be carried out uniformly so that a high degree of uniformity in configuration of twists can be imparted to the component yarns and doubled yarn, and a multiple twisted yarn ofa superior quality can be produced with high production efficiency.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a multiple twisting apparatus having superior operative functions, such as the ability of preventing the creation of slackened yarn or, preventing instant elevation of yarn tension at the time of doffing full packaged bobbins from the second twisting assemblies or during the donning of full packaged bobbins on the first twisting assemblies, or when starting the twisting operation after temporarily stopping the operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compact multiple twisting apparatus which will then reduce the required installation space.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a multiple twisting apparatus which is easily handled so that the operation cost can be reduced.

The simultaneous mutliple twisting apparatus according to the present invention comprises at least one twisting unit provided with the following essential elements:

a. a first twisting element comprising at least two twofor-one twisting assemblies;

b. an element for combining twisted yarns delivered from the above-mentioned two-for-one twisting assemblies;

c. a second twisting element, disposed at a position below a corresponding said first twisting element for imparting a second twist to the combined yarn delivered from the combining element;

d. an element for positively carrying the combined yarn to the second twisting element;

e. a group of yarn guides for leading the combined yarn along a passage behind and then below the first twisting element, and thereafter leading the combined yarn to a position right above the second twisting element;

f. at least one driving mechanism for driving the first twisting element and carrying element and the second twisting element in tandem or separately.

In the present invention, the well known conventional two-for-one twisting assembly is capable of being utilized as the above-mentioned two-for-one twisting assembly without any modification. In the case of pro ducing a two-ply yarn, a pair of two-for-one twisting assemblies are used as the first twisting element, while in the case of producing a three-ply yarn, the number of component twisting assemblies is three. That is, the required number of component twisting assemblies for the first twisting element depends upon the number of plies of the final yarn produced by each twisting unit.

The first twisted yarns delivered from the respective two-for-one twisting assemblies are carried to the second twisting element in contact with each other or carried closely, by way of a combining element so as to form a common carrying passage. A conventional yarn guide may be utilized as the abovementioned combining element. A conventional pinch roller, which is utilized to positively carry a yarn, is preferably employed in the present invention as the above-mentioned carrying element. As for the second twisting element, the well known ring twisting assembly is successively utilized. A mechanism comprising a conventional driving motor, gear trains and belt driving means is employed in the present invention as the above-mentioned driving mechanism. Further, a method for driving each of the second twisting elements by an individual driving motor is also applicable in the present invention.

It is well known that the conventional two-for-one twisting assembly is provided with a tension control means disposed therein. This tension control means is hereinafter referred to as a first tension control element. The simultaneous multiple twisting apparatus according to the present invention is further provided with tension control means comprising a second tension control element, disposed at a position along a yarn passage between the delivery part of each two-forone twisting assembly and the above-mentioned combining element, and a third tension control element, disposed at a position which is adjacent to and downstream of the yarn passage to the combining element.

Further, in the present invention, the first twisting element and the carrying element are synchronously driven with the second twisting element at the period of commencing the twisting operation, and at a time of stopping the operation. In the present invention, to attain easy handling of the yarn bobbins mounted in the first twisting element, a spindle axis of each of the twofor-one twisting assemblies of the first twisting element is disposed on the machine frame with an angle 6 between the upright direction and the spindle axis. This angle 8 is in a range between 0 and preferably in a range between 0 and 45.

In the twisting apparatus according to the present invention, there are provided at least one twisting unit, but usually more than 20 twisting units, and the twofor-one twisting assemblies of each twisting unit are arranged in a front side and a rear side alignment. Therefore, it is essential to arrange these twisting assemblies in a balanced relation. Consequently, in the present invention, the twisting assemblies of each first twisting element are positioned in such a condition that an angle between a line passing through the centers of the spindle shafts of the front side and rear side twisting assemblies and the direction of the front side or rear side alignment is in a range between 30 and 90.

To carry out the twisting operation under stable conditions, it is essential to control the yarn tension in each twisting device. Therefore, in the present invention, each first twisting device is provided with a tension control mechanism, and the tensions of the twisted component yarns taken from the respective yarn packages are controlled before doubling and, in addition, the yarn tension of the doubled yarn is also controlled. These tensions are required to satisfy a particular relation T, T T where T,, T and T represent the yarn tension controlled by the above-mentioned tension controls, respectively. That is, T, represents a yarn tension in the first twisting device, T a yarn tension just before doubling and T a yarn tension of one of the doubled yarns. In the above mentioned arrangement of the first twisting device yarn passage, a synchronous driving mechanism and tension control, the purpose of the present invention can be satisfactorily attained.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawings to which the scope of the invention is in no way limited.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of the multiple twisting apparatus, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a unit of the twisting assembly shown in FIG. 1; 

1. A multiple twisting apparatus having at least one twisting unit, comprising a first twisting device provided with at least two two-for-one twisting assemblies, each of said two-for-one twisting assemblies being provided with a first tension control means disposed therein, means for doubling first-twisted yarns withdrawn from said two-for-one twisting assemblies, a second twisting device disposed below said first twisting device for imparting a second twist to a doubled yarn carried from said means for doubling, means for positively feeding said doubled yarn to said second twisting device, a plurality of yarn guides forming a yarn passage behind said first twisting device and forming a yarn passage to said feeding means, and means for driving said first twisting device, said second twisting device and said feeding means.
 2. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises means for synchronously driving said first twisting device, said second twisting device and said means for feeding during at least a period of commencing and at the time of stopping said apparatus.
 3. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for driving comprises intermediate power transmission mechanisms, and a motor for driving said first twisting device, said means for feeding and said second twisting device by way of said intermediate power transmission mechanisms.
 4. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for driving a first motor, intermediate power transmission mechanisms coupled to said first motor for driving said means for feeding together with said second twisting device, a second motor, and an intermediate power transmission mechanism coupled to said second motor for driving said first twisting device.
 5. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for driving comprises a first motor, intermediate power transmission mechanisms coupled to said first motor for driving said means for feeding together with said first twisting device, a second motor and an intermediate power transmission mechanism coupled to said second motor for driving said second twisting device.
 6. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for driving comprises a first motor, an intermediate power-transmission mechanism coupled to said first motor for driving said means for feeding, a second motor, and an intermediate power transmission mechanism coupled to said second motor for driving said first twisting device and said second twisting device.
 7. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for driving comprises a first motor for driving said means for feeding, a second motor for driving said first twisting device, a third motor for driving said second twisting device, and separate intermediate power transmission mechanisms coupled to said first, second and third motors.
 8. A multiple twisting apparatus having at least two twisting units according to claim 2, wherein said means for driving for said second twisting devices comprises an individual driving motor corresponding to each of said second twisting devices.
 9. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for driving comprises a first belt-drive system having an endless belt for driving spindles of said two-for-one twisting assemblies of all twisting units and a second belt-drive system having an endless belt for driving spindles of said second twisting device of all twisting units.
 10. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second belt-drive system comprises a plurality of endless belts coupled to drive said second twisting devices, said second twisting devices being disposed at both sides of said twisting apparatus in facing condition, respectively.
 11. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said second belt-drive system comprises a plurality of endless belts for driving four secoNd twisting devices, said four second twisting devices being disposed at both sides of said twisting apparatus in such a condition that two of said second twisting devices are disposed at a first side of said twisting apparatus with a predetermined spindle pitch therebetween while the other two second twisting devices are disposed at another side of said twisting apparatus in facing condition to said two twisting devices disposed at said first side.
 12. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said two-for-one twisting assemblies of all twisting units are arranged in two groups, one of said groups is aligned along a front side line being parallel to a longitudinal direction of said twisting apparatus, the other of said groups is aligned along a rear side line being parallel to said front side line, the angle Alpha between said front side line or said rear side line and a line passing through the axial centers of the nearest two two-for-one twisting assemblies selected from said front side line and said rear side line, respectively, being within a range between 60* and 90*.
 13. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an angle theta between the upright direction and a spindle axis of each of said two-for-one twisting assemblies being mounted on a bracket of said twisting apparatus is in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.
 14. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second means for controlling yarn tension located between a delivery position of each of, said two-for-one twisting assemblies and said means for doubling, and a third means for controlling yarn tension located between said means for doubling and said means for feeding.
 15. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said twisting units are disposed on both sides of said apparatus.
 16. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of said first twisting devices comprised a clutch means for simultaneously engaging or dis-engaging each of said first twisting devices to and from said endless belt of said first belt-drive system independently from other first twisting devices.
 17. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said third means for controlling yarn tension has a capability to reserve an excess length of yarn in a slackened condition which is created at a time of stopping the twisting operation.
 18. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second means for controlling yarn tension comprises a yarn tension detector and a limit switch connected to an actuating mechanism of said driving means, whereby said limit switch is actuated to stop said driving means when said yarn tension detector detects a definite lowered condition of yarn tension.
 19. A multiple twisting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said range is from 0* to 45*. 